China's Shi Yuqi recorded his second win of the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou to move within touching distance of making it to the semifinals.
Shi had a slow start against Thailand's Kunlavut Vitidsarn and lost the first game 21-14. But the Chinese battled back to claim the second 21-19. The world number one trailed 14-6 in the deciding third set, but the Chinese shuttler stayed calm to narrow the gap to two points when Vitidsarn hit the return wide. Shi grabbed match point at 20-18 before Vitidsarn collected two points in a row to level it at 20. But Shi fired a big smash to take the lead again.
Shi Yuqin in action against Kunlavut Vitidsarn in the men's singles group stage at BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, December 12, 2024. /CFP
Meanwhile, Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Li Shifeng fought hard for his first win in the group as the 24-year-old came back from a set down to see off Chou Tien-Chen 18-21, 21-14, 21-13 in a gruelling 73-minute test. The win put Li back in the running for a semifinal spot after he lost his Group A opener in 58 minutes to Anders Antonsen earlier.
In the women's singles, Han Yue beat Supanida Katethong of Thailand 21-16, 21-18, and Wang Zhiyi beat Japan's Aya Ohori 21-17, 13-21, 21-19.
In the women's doubles, China's Olympic champions Chen Qingchen and Jia Yifan beat South Korea's Baek Ha Na and Lee So Hee 2-0 en route to title defense. The Chinese pair led by small margin throughout the first set, and expanded the gap towards the end, taking the set 21-16 on Jia's forehand. In the second set, the Chinese duo created a 10-point gap, when Jia's forehand, again, was too much to handle for the South Korea players, and they led 18-8. The defending champions went on to win the set 21-16 when Lee hit wide.
In the mixed doubles, China's Olympic champions Zheng Siwei and Huang Yaqiong beat Tang Chun Man and Tse Ying Suet from China's Hong Kong SAR 2-1 in a comeback win in Group A. The Chinese mainland duo are together on tour for the first time after crowning in Paris, and appeared to be a little rusty dropping the first set 14-21.But they leveled the match with a 21-13 win in the second frame. After the third set was tied at 18, Zheng and Huang held composure to win it 21-18 and claimed their first victory in Hangzhou after falling to teammates Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin a day ago.